I'm not too sure what to expect as I haven't been following the pots situation at all. Personally, I hope that the Czechs draw a team from CONCACAF and Asia. I would love to see the Czechs drawn against England.... but I don't even know if that is possible?
I would love to see USA and Czech in one group! Hm you need one seeded country - hm maybe Spain. Czech could make it. And one easy country - from Asia or Concacaf. I would not like to see Germany and Czech in one group. We played already several times and we don´t have good experiences from European cup 2004. I hope you remember this game when Czech B-team won against Germany. Horrible. But USA-Czech would be worth to see. Both countries play good attacking soccer. the worst scenario: Brazil or Argentina in Czech Group. Bltleo GERMANY
CMFS general secretary Petr Fousek seems to think that the Czech Republic will be in the third pot too, which lends more support to what Kicker had published earlier. Only 10 more days and we find out.
Wow you became bigsoccer moderator. Hm compliment. Anyway without you would be this czech board not so alive. You make this board interesting. I also always said that I appreciate so much a support from CANADIAN for czech team. I know Czech Republic is your favorite country and I know you will root for czech team. I think you deserved that the czech national team with their national coach invite you to their games when they play in Germany. Maybe we should do promotion for you. This is great from you. Back to soccer in Czech Republic. Czech team will be a tough team. I think they will have similar successful tournament as they had last European Cup. I only hope that they will have a bit more good luck as they had with Greece that time. Nedved will probably play. Czech team showed that they can play against such top-countries like Holland or Germany. I think no one wish to have Czech Republic in their groups. Americans don´t want them, Germany don´t want them. So it says that everyone has respect for czech soccer or better football. Your german friend Bltleo
If the Czech team really is in the third pot, then almost by default the group they are in will be the group of death. On the other hand, teams like South Korea are not that strong away from home (a few teams in Pot 2 are not all that strong). Once again, Kicker's predictions are: KICKER'S PREDICTED WORLD CUP SEEDINGS Pot 1: Brazil, Germany, Spain, Argentina, Italy, England, Mexico, France; Pot 2: Netherlands, USA, South Korea, Sweden, Croatia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Japan; Pot 3: Portugal, Czech Republic, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Serbia & Montenegro, Poland, Tunisia, Ecuador; Pot 4: Switzerland, Ivory Coast, Ukraine, Trinidad & Tobago, Australia, Ghana, Angola, Togo. (Note: FIFA would probably take steps to avoid three European teams being drawn together in the same group.) 9 more days!
Do you remember the game Holland-Czech Republic in the last European Cup? Was that not the best game in the soccer history? Yes it was one of the best games I have ever seen, the most attractive and attacking soccer. So I think Czech have chance against Holland and if they play against each other, be sure it will be one of the best games again. Brazil? Hops..this will be hard...but Brazil is hard for everyone.. Bltleo GERMANY
The Associated Press (AP) has put out a set of possible seeding. My impression from comparing the AP seedings to Kicker's seeding: Kicker looks much more reasonable, especially for Pot 1.
It would help if I posted the AP seedings. POSSIBLE SEEDINGS ACCORDING TO AP 1st Pot: Brazil, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Croatia, Argentina, Netherlands; 2nd Pot: South Korea, Mexico, England, Sweden, USA, Japan, Czech Republic, Portugal; 3rd Pot: Paraguay, Serbia & Montenegro, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tunisia; 4th Pot:Switzerland, Angola, Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine, Australia.
Well, I don't know if the Czechs want an easy or hard group ( ) , but if it's the former, but I'll lay 20-1 odds that if they get in the 2nd pot and are paired with Croatia, Tunisia, and Cote D'Ivoire, they will advance. Of course I'd say the same if the USA finds themselves in Pot 2. Probably the hardest pairings if they get in 2nd pot would be Brasil, Ecuador, and Ukraine.
Now Reuters has come out with a possible seeding list. On that basis, Brazil, Italy, France, Argentina, Spain, Mexico and England could all join Germany in the top group of seeds, with the Netherlands, the United States, Czech Republic, Croatia, South Korea, Japan and Paraguay in the second group. Ecuador, Switzerland, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Iran, Costa Rica and Portugal are contenders for Pool Three while Ukraine, Serbia & Montenegro, Ivory Coast, Australia, Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Togo and Angola -- the lowest ranked side in the competition with a FIFA ranking of 62nd in the world -- making up Pool Four. The good news is that tomorrow FIFA should announce the pot with the actual draw on Friday.
Well, Kicker, UEFA, and Sky Sports have the same pools. So I assume that these are the pools that will be used for the draw. They are: The USA and Holland were the unlucky sides to miss out the top seeds pot. Group Seedings: Pool One: Germany (hosts), Brazil (champions), Italy, France, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, England Pool Two: Australia, Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia, Ecuador, Paraguay Pool Three: Croatia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine Pool Four: Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, United States Special pot: Serbia & Montenegro The pools beyond pool one are not based on strength of team (pool 2 is the weakest group). It also looks like FIFA did ignore "strength" beyond pool 1 and went straight to confederation. This could result in some killer groups and some easy groups. Killer: Brazil, Paraguay, Czech Republic, USA Not Killer: Spain, Angola, Czech Republic, Trinidad and Tobago. Would Like to see: Germany, Australia, Czech Republic, and USA
Thanks for the update - the draw should be interesting on Friday. I plan on listening to the draw on BBC Radio. I personally want to see the Czechs play either England or the United States. I wouldn't mind this group - England, Tunisia, Czech Repubic and Japan.
I also would love to see USA-Czech game.... and if USA have Czechs in the group, Germany will not have Czechs, which is good anyway I think Czechs will be very hard competion for everyone.. I also hope we will get a lot of traffic on the czech board during the World Cup... Czechs are surely one of favorites for the WC finale.. So we hope USA and Czechs are in one group.. I know USA don´t want Czechs, but why not? Holland want Czechs as well. no one will Czechs in their groups bltleo GERMANY
Interesting group for the Czechs. I'm already looking forward to the USA-Czech game - of course the Czechs are going to win. It will almost be like a home game for the Czechs (I hope) as many Czechs will be at the game. Not sure what to expect of Italy and Ghana. I can see the Czechs getting a point against Italy. The Ghana game will probably be wide open with a lot of attacking.
Well, I beg to disagre with you, (temporarily displaced) neighbor In all honesty, I think most USA fans are probably more concerned about the Czech game than any other game in the group. I would have preferred to play them last, get teh games vs. Italy & Ghana out of the way first, but nothing seemed to break our way this draw (#2 in the group gets in all likelihood Brasil in the Round of 16...gee, thanks ) At first glance, I as a USA fan would be absolutely overjoyed with a draw vs. the Czechs, as I think we match up better vs. Italy than vs. the Czechs. If the USA can pull a win in this "Group of Death B" vs. a Euro team, I think their chances are much better vs Italy...especially if at least a draw can be managed vs. the Czech Republic, it will be a big confidence boost. In any case, it is a good, tough group (Ghana? Have you seen how big their squad is?? ) and the two teams that come out of this group will have earned it, and be in good shape for a deep run in the round of 16.
I will be cheering for the Czech Republic against Italy and Ghana. I guess I can only go for a draw against the USA. And USA for wins against Italy and Ghana. So I guess it's Svickova and BBQ with Pilsner Urquell and Sam Adams on June 12 (that is, if we are home ). Both USA and Czech Republic going through!
The 12th is on a Monday so there will be some people at work, but it should be a great game and many friends are retired, but there is always plenty of room at our house AND it's a good menu. However, Minnesota is pretty far away from Merryland. I have lots of old friends from Minnesota; it's a nice state and has lots of nice people.
